episode_0096
by fnovelpia
A silence flowed through the quiet mansion.
Before I knew it, the sun had completely set and it was starting to get gloomy.
The princess’s eyes, which had been shining against the red sunset, now seemed to shine even brighter against the complete darkness of night.
After finishing the contract, Alex waited for the princess to speak.
I wondered how far the contract could force my actions. So I looked at the child of the Holy Sword lying in the corner over there and felt murderous intent.
‘…!’
My heart was pounding as I harbored a strong murderous intent.
The power of the royal family was tightly wrapped around Alex’s heart.
If he went any further, if he tried to swing his sword at that blond man… Alex’s heart would burst.
When Alex realized how the Dark Oath would work, he smiled to himself.
‘It’s different from when we were in the family.’
Restricting one’s actions with a dark oath is different in principle from being deprived of one’s freedom as a subordinate. When I understood that, I felt relieved and laughed.
Back then I couldn’t contain my thoughts and emotions, but now it’s different.
The Dark Oath is not impossible to recognize, only that it imposes an absolute penalty for acts that violate the contract. That conclusion amused Alex.
It was a method proposed to somehow infiltrate the princess’s surroundings. However, when I actually threw it, I was worried that it would take away my freedom again with a high-dimensional force like creating a retinue.
But how could I not be happy when I realized that even after the contract ended, my ‘will’ was still the same as before?
The plan to give enough stimulation to the free life was just beginning. Alex asked the princess excitedly.
“Your Majesty, what should I do now? I sincerely thank you for taking me in with your boundless mercy. I will repay your kindness by helping you on your journey to reclaim the empire.”
Ah, my gratitude was sincere.
As he said that, Alex imagined the final moments. Just imagining it made him feel excited.
“Find Matthias, the giant of the system. Meet him and talk to him. He’s an advisor to the imperial family.”
The princess had already turned around and was approaching Karl, as if she had finished her business with Alex. She answered in a businesslike tone.
‘Matthias? Oh, that must be Nexios’ new name.’
Alex thought to himself. A pleasant name came to mind. Perhaps the ‘present’ Nexios did not know Alex’s face. All of the previous generations were dead, except Alex—who was once called Ringcaps—himself.
By the way, seeing the princess who proudly calls herself the imperial family despite her downfall… I felt it was interesting in its own way, as if I was seeing the end of a miserable downfall. Still, perhaps thanks to Nexio’s skills, they have acquired the qualities that could be called a regular army.
Now, because I was happy and satisfied with this situation, I said it with a big smile on my face.
“What do you think Her Highness the Princess will do? You need to sort out the situation first.”
“… Just in case, I’m telling you this, but only use the title of princess when there’s just the two of you. The identity of ‘Unknown’ is a secret, right?”
“Of course. I will be careful. But for now… .”
At that moment, the princess looked back.
He pointed to Carl Maynor, who was lying down, with a wink.
It meant to be quiet, and also meant not to disturb.
Although it was none other than the princess herself who had fallen into a deep sleep, she seemed to be very anxious.
Princess Tricky Green sighed deeply and said.
“I’m worried. What should I do when the sword wakes up? But one thing is clear: You shouldn’t be by the awakened sword’s side, right?”
“……”
It means get lost, probably.
As she said this, she used magic to levitate the sword’s body into the air.
Again-
Again-
I took a step forward.
I headed towards the central staircase of this old mansion.
She walked gracefully, and Karl, still in a deep sleep, floated behind her.
The sophisticated magic that Trixie was using was making a small whoosh- sound, slowly moving Carl Maynor without shaking.
“Oh, where are you going? Weren’t you planning on leaving this place?”
Alex asked out of pure curiosity as he looked at the sword floating in the air.
“Bedroom.”
“… Yes?”
“You can’t just put a knife on the ground, right?”
“Ah.”
Alex sighed at the princess’s answer, which seemed to be asking something so obvious. He knew that the royal family had been strange for generations, but the princess, who was an academy student, felt different.
Let’s stay still, it’s the bedroom… .
Oh, I see! That’s it.
Only then did Alex understand the princess’s stupid contract terms.
The moment when his identity was suddenly revealed, the terms of the contract, and this unconventional destination…
I snapped my fingers, astonished at the astonishing discovery.
It was interesting to see the impulsive personality of the royal family that I met after a long time.
I have never heard or seen a royal family that loves their natural enemy. After all, if the owner of the Holy Sword is eliminated by any means necessary, there will be almost no one who can stop the royal family.
If the princess was acting with that intention, it was truly amazing. That made me want to take it away even more.
Well, for now, I have to disappear for the sake of the plan. Gaining the princess’s trust is a priority.
“Well, have a good time.”
“……”
He said goodbye with a kind smile that seemed to understand everything. It was awkward because it didn’t match Alex’s sly face at all.
A moment of shyness crossed the face of the newlywed princess. She blushed slightly and tried to answer.
“Then, to Matthias-”
But while answering, I suddenly felt a surge of energy and stopped in my tracks. I glanced towards the entrance of the mansion. There was a door that was old and moldy.
“Oh no… uninvited guests are coming.”
“… Already?”
Trixie closed her eyes. She closed them still and counted the beings approaching. Through the mana surrounding the mansion, through her power.
“Tsk, I was watching because I was worried about the knife.”
He muttered as if he was sorry and resentful. Soon, he turned his gaze to Alex. The sword he had been taking with magic was soon laid back on the floor.
Saaak-
Alex looked at the face of the princess who was looking at him, and the eyes that had been shining turquoise returned to the blue eyes he had seen for the first time. She had returned to the appearance of a noble lady who was just ordinary—although her appearance was far from ordinary.
Not only her eyes, but also her atmosphere and sense of oppression had changed. She was like a delicate academy student who had somehow gotten herself involved in a big problem.
It looks like it might break if you handle it just a little bit carelessly….
Alex secretly smacked his lips as he observed the princess’s appearance.
“Are you good at acting?”
“Are you acting?”
“I’m going to scream now. Then you show me how to threaten me.”
“……”
“There’s no time to explain. If uninvited guests show up, fight them for a bit and then leave.”
Beatrice spoke to Alex in an urgent tone.
“Who is coming?”
“People whose identities must not be revealed. There’s even a saint, damn it.”
“A saint? Then wouldn’t it be better to kill her right here and now? The high-ranking priests of the church are enemies of Your Majesty?”
“… No, not yet.”
Beatrice, who was thinking of the saint who had already reached the front of the mansion, answered. Not yet.
But Alex, how on earth does this guy know about the deep-rooted hostility between the royal family and the religious order? I wondered if he was really a capable mercenary.
“Knife!”
A call to arms was heard outside the door.
“Okay, just remember this. Don’t kill anyone. Not today. Just show a moderately threatening appearance and disappear. Let them know you’re now part of our royal family.”
“… Okay.”
“Then, shall we begin?”
Beatrice, who had been speaking urgently, urged him on as if there was no time.
Alex nodded slowly.
Phew-
Beatrice took a deep breath and screamed loudly. Her beautiful voice, which had been absolutely unwavering just moments before, cracked and came out rough and unsteady.
“Gyaaah!!!”
Alex stared blankly at the princess, whose expression grew more and more frightened by the minute, and thought.
I thought that the princess had quite a talent for acting. At the same time, I wanted to hear that scream in real life, not just acting. It would be even better if it was mixed with sobs.
Srrrrung-
Alex pulled out his sword from the floor in time with the scream. He then slowly approached Beatrice, who was even shedding tears.
Oh my gosh, tears… .
When she made the Dark Oath, she felt that the price she was paying was not fair.
No, saving lives is the price of the contract!
It was cheeky and annoying. I really held back a lot. I’ll try again later…
But these tears and screams were more than enough to be considered a deposit, even though it was an act and fake.
One day, the day when the plan comes true. The day when he betrays the princess. He engraved deep in his heart that he would definitely see the ‘real’ side of her, not an act.
Boom-!
At that moment, the door to the mansion and the wall surrounding the area were completely destroyed.
“Aesongi! Answer me if you’re alive.”
“Knife… Where, where is it… .”
Through the large, broken hole in the wall, a man with gray hair and a dizzyingly pretty woman appeared.
In Alex’s eyes, she was a woman so sacred that he felt dizzy and suffocated, and he did not want to get close to her.
She must be a saint.
And the man next to her was… a familiar face.
“Beatrice?! Are you okay?”
“Seo, Saintess… . Hehe.”
Beatrice burst into tears at her amazing acting skills and collapsed on the spot.
As if the strength in his legs had given out with relief.
Alex turned his back on Beatrice, who was desperately moving away from him while lying on her back, and turned towards the two people who had just arrived.
“You… .”
“……”
The man with the gray hair brushed back, Louis, also recognized Alex. Then he opened his eyes wide as he noticed the knife lying on the floor.
“The sword is still alive! Hey, help me!!”
Beatrice shouted as she got as far away from Alex as possible, somehow managed to get up on her own two legs and approach the knife.
Alex was once again amazed by the princess’s acting skills. It was truly a desperate cry. So exciting.
“Director, do you know him?”
“Ah, we met briefly.”
When the saint asked calmly to understand the situation, Louise answered.
“In the fucking palace… .”
“Wow, that kid from back then, he seems to have grown up quite a bit.”
“You haven’t aged at all, have you? Did you use some kind of magic?”
“Are you jealous?”
“No, not really. It’s probably some trashy royal trick!”
With those words, Louis ran towards Alex at a frightening speed.
Knowing the fearsome nature of his opponent, he intended to capture him before others got caught up in it.
visor-
Louis’ sword and Alex’s sword crossed. The two locked swords without giving an inch. At that moment, Louis shouted at the saintess.
“Alana! Get out of here somehow with Aesongi and that lady.”
The saint turned to where the sword and Beatrice were.
“I’ll get you both to a safe place and be sure to come back. Until then, please hold on, Director!”
“Ha, I won’t bother waiting.”
He answered lightly and gripped the sword tightly.
“I’ll finish it before you come back.”
He shrugs and glares at Alex.
Alex answered with satisfaction at her confident appearance.
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, like back then.”
“The situation is different now than it was then.”
Louis smiled at the laughing Alex.
“Now you’re the strongest knight in the empire, you son of a bitch.”
Somehow it overlapped with the uniformed Aesong I had just encountered.
But at the same time, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to keep the princess’s order to fight ‘moderately’.
Because I could immediately tell that my opponent’s arrogance of being the strongest knight in the empire was not just an empty boast.
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